(a) The board may use state funds to provide education and training for its employees in accordance with the State Employees Training Act (Texas Government Code, §§656.041 - 656.104). To be eligible for training and education supported by the board, an employee must:
  (1) remain employed by the board for the duration of the training or education;
  (2) receive approval for the training or education from the employee's supervisor; and
  (3) accept the obligation to successfully complete the education or training program.
(b) The education or training shall be related to the employee's current position or prospective job duties at the board.
(c) The board's education and training program benefits both the board and the employees participating by:
  (1) preparing for technological and legal developments;
  (2) increasing work capabilities;
  (3) increasing the number of qualified employees in areas for which the board has difficulty in recruiting and retaining employees; and
  (4) increasing the competence of agency employees.
(d) Board employees may be required to complete an education or training program related to the employee's duties or prospective duties as a condition of employment.
(e) Participation in an education or training program requires the appropriate level of approval prior to participation and is subject to the availability of funds within the agency's budget.
(f) The employee education and training program for the board may include:
  (1) mandatory agency-sponsored training required for all employees;
  (2) education relating to technical or professional certifications and licenses;
  (3) education and training relating to the promotion of employee development;
  (4) employee-funded external education;
  (5) board-funded external education; and
  (6) other board-sponsored education and training determined by the board to fulfill the purposes of the State Employees Training Act.
(g) The board's Human Resources Director is designated as the administrator of the board's education and training program.
(h) Approval to participate in any portion of the board's education and training program shall not in any way affect an employee's at-will status or constitute a guarantee or indication of continued employment, nor shall it constitute a guarantee or indication of future employment in a current or prospective position.
(i) Permission to participate in any education and training program may be withdrawn if the board determines, in its sole discretion, that participation would negatively impact the employee's job duties or performance.
(j) If an employee seeks reimbursement for a training or education program offered by an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Texas Education Code §61.003, Education Code, the board may only pay the tuition expenses for a program course successfully completed by the employee at an accredited institution of higher education. Before an employee may be reimbursed for training under this subsection, the Board's Executive Director must authorize the reimbursement.

Source Note: The provisions of this §577.20 adopted to be effective January 18, 2011, 36 TexReg 143; amended to be effective June 14, 2016, 41 TexReg 4259